Burton boss Dino Maamria reflected on a “huge win” for his side as they came from behind to record a stunning 4-1 win over 10-man Bristol Rovers and make it four wins on the bounce.
Bez Lubala grabbed two goals to turn the game in Albion’s favour by half-time after Antony Evans had nodded Rovers in front.
“That is a huge win for us,” Maamria said. “The more wins you have then the tougher they get. Although the scoreline is 4-1 it was a tough win when we weren’t at our best and that is the growth that the team has made in the last few weeks.
“When you produce results like that and you are at 70 per cent of your best then that is something the team can go forward with.”
With the game on a knife edge in the second half, Ryan Woods’ red card for Rovers handed Albion the initiative again with Joe Powell and Kwadwo Baah scoring spectacular late goals to seal an emphatic victory, but Maamria reserved praise for Lubala.
“Bez does so much work for the team, in terms of the press and dropping in to keep the shape of the team,” Maamria said. “I am so pleased for him today because he is a good finisher and he was clinical today. He had a chance for a hat-trick but was unselfish to set it up for someone else.”
Rovers boss Joey Barton felt his side did not get the rub of the green after going in front with the red card a turning point.
“It was a huge moment,” Barton said.
“We were trying to get back in the game at the start of the second half and I thought the lads came out really sharply. We had a couple of good crosses that somehow we didn’t manage to get on the end of.
“Sometimes it is one of those days. Their first two goals are both crosses that deflected between our players’ legs so you know you are maybe not getting the rub of the green and then the sending-off, for me, was needless.
“It didn’t need to happen and then the momentum that we have built up in the second half went out of our sails a bit and it gave Burton the impetus. Credit to them they have gone on to see the game out with two fantastic strikes.”
Everything looked good for Rovers early on after Evans gave his side the lead, but Barton’s men were unable to build on it.
“It’s disappointing,” he said. “You come away from home and make a fantastic start, get your noses in front and you expect to kick on from there. If I am honest, we didn’t.
“We fell into thinking that we can sit back on the 1-0 but credit to Burton, they got themselves back into it. We find ourselves 2-1 down and then the red card leaves us with a real mountain to climb.”
Bayer Leverkusen sign Girona skipper Aleix Garcia
Bayer Leverkusen have completed the signing of Girona captain Aleix Garcia on a five-year deal.
The Spain international is Leverkusen's second arrival during the close season, along with Jeanuel Belocian, who will join the club from Ligue 1 side Rennes on July 1.
Garcia played a key role in the middle of the park during a memorable 2023-24 campaign for Girona, with three goals and six assists in 37 appearances as they finished third in LaLiga and qualified for the Champions League for the first time.
The 26-year-old will link up with compatriot Xabi Alonso, who oversaw an unbeaten domestic season as Leverkusen landed the first Bundesliga title in their history.
Die Werkself also captured the DFB-Pokal and were runners-up to Atalanta in the Europa League, and Garcia hopes he can help the club build on that success.
"I'm very happy to join this big club," he told Leverkusen's official website.
"Like football fans in the whole of Europe, I have admired Bayer Leverkusen for their exceptional achievements in the season just gone. That's why I wanted to join this club, to do big things.
"I've been thrilled that a club like this has done so much to get me. Now, I definitely want to fulfil all the expectations of myself, and make my contribution to this team and the club in continuing to be successful."
Conor Gallagher shelving Chelsea future thoughts to focus on England and Euro 2024
Conor Gallagher is parking any thoughts about his Chelsea future to focus on England's bid for Euro 2024 glory in Germany.
The 24-year-old midfielder has been linked with a Stamford Bridge exit amid reports the Blues might cash in to ease their Profit and Sustainability rules situation, with any sale for Gallagher classed as 100 per cent profit due to the fact he came through the academy.
Tottenham and Aston Villa are among those to have been linked with a move for Gallagher, who was one of Chelsea's more consistent performers in a topsy-turvy 2023-24 Premier League campaign.
However, Gallagher - chosen for a second successive major tournament - is not allowing himself to look beyond the Euros as Gareth Southgate's men prepare to begin their Group C campaign against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday.
In quotes reported by BBC Sport, Gallagher said: "I'm a Chelsea player right now and I'm just thinking about England and the tournament.
"It's not difficult. I'm away with England and I couldn't be happier with the position I'm in.
"I've just been focusing on England. This is the most important thing right now for me and the country.
"I'm hoping I can help the team more on the pitch in this tournament."
Seattle Sounders v Minnesota United: Ramsay relishing 'difficult' road trip
Eric Ramsay is looking forward to the challenge Minnesota United face when they travel to Seattle Sounders in the MLS on Saturday.
Minnesota are third in the Western Conference, having lost just one of their last nine matches in the competition.
With leaders Real Salt Lake just four points in front of them, the Loons are looking to keep on the pressure, but they have never earned a point when travelling to Seattle.
However, Ramsey is confident his team can put that history behind them after watching them rise to challenges throughout the season.
"It's a challenge that we can go and meet head-on," he said. "We've met challenges all the way through this season in that way.
"I can only imagine it's a positive, if anything. I said to the group that every time they've been asked to rise to the occasion, largely they've done that.
"Going to a place like that, where we obviously find it difficult - we have a big few days that could arguably define the upcoming period."
Meanwhile, Seattle have won just one of their last five outings and sit outside the playoff places in the table.
Captain Stefan Frei admitted it is tough to look on the bright side after their poor run, but is hopeful they can get themselves out of trouble.
"Finding positive things has been hard this year. Finding frustration is very easy," said Frei. "Finding negatives is very easy.
"But you cannot succumb to that because no good will come from it. You've got to keep trying to find positives and, if not, create them so that we can all find a way out of this hole. Even as an individual, to find a way through it, so you can help the rest of the team."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Seattle Sounders – Stefan Frei
Seattle conceded the game-winning goal to Kansas City in the 85th minute on Saturday in a 2-1 defeat.
The Sounders have allowed a result-changing goal in the last 10 minutes five times this season, including in three of their last four regular-season matches (two equalizers, one winner). Stefan Frei will be aiming to avoid conceding another late goal on Saturday.
Minnesota United – Hassani Dotson
Dotson scored just his second goal of the season in Minnesota's 1-1 draw with FC Dallas last time out. Only five players for the Loons have netted more times than him this season.
MATCH PREDICTION: SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN
The Sounders have won all eight of their home matches against Minnesota United (incl. playoffs). The longest home winning streak by one team over another in MLS play (incl. playoffs) is nine straight, done five times, most recently by Philadelphia Union against D.C. United (2015-22).
Six of Seattle's last eight home MLS matches have ended in draws (W1 L1), including the last three in a row. Dating back to last June, the Sounders have split the points in 10 of their last 15 home league games.
Meanwhile, Minnesota have lost only one of their last nine regular-season matches (W5 D3) following a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas on Saturday. The Loons enter their 17th match of the season with just three defeats this year after having never had fewer than five losses in the first half of a full season before.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Seattle Sounders – 41.6%
Draw – 26.7%
Minnesota United – 31.8%
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